Dear Parishioners,

Last Thursday, August 15, we celebrated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although this dogma (an official church teaching that must be believed) was not officially proclaimed by Pope Pius XII until 1950, Christians in the eastern church were commemorating this event, which they referred to as Mary’s Dormition (“falling asleep”) since at least the 6th century C. E. This early Christian teaching held that at the end of her early life, Mary “fell asleep” and was assumed, body and soul, into the full presence of God, that is, heaven. This was a privileged sign from God since it was through the totality of her person, that Mary gave birth to the Savior of the world.

The sign of Mary’s assumption has a prophetic character that is intended to give us hope, for, just as Mary was raised to the new life of heaven at the end of her earthly pilgrimage, so it will be for all God’s people. The assumption might be said to anticipate God’s intention for redeemed humanity and is given symbolic expression in Mary as well as the rhythms of creation. This is why the placement of this feast at the beginning of the harvest season is so significant, for in some countries throughout the world, the Assumption of Mary launches this season of in-gathering. It is a time of joyful gratitude as people reap the fruits of the earth remembering that Mary was the first person to be harvested from the human race as a sacrament of God’s love for his creation.

The following sonnet, by the Irish philosopher and poet John O’Donohue, alludes to this harvest as it helps to unfold the mystery of this great feast.

The Assumption

Perhaps time is the keeper of distance and loss,
Knowing that we are but able for a little at a time.
And the innocence of fragments is wise with us,
Keeps us from order that is not native to our dust.
Yes, without warning, a life can suddenly chance
On its hidden rhythm, find a flow it never knew.
Where the heart was blind, subtle worlds rise into view;
Where the mind was forced, crippled thought begins to dance.
As if this day found for her everything she lost,
Her breath infused with harvest she never expected
From the unlived lives she had only touched in a dream;
Her mind rests; memory glows in a stairs of twilight.
Her hair kisses the breeze. Her eyes know it is time.
She looks as young as the evening the raven came.

(From Conamara Blues by John O’Donohue, Doubleday, 2000)

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As our universal church celebrates the joyful assumption of the one who was the living temple to house the Body of Christ, our local church of St. Joan of Arc, a concrete temple that also houses the Body of Christ, is also on the brink of a great celebration. Soon we will return to our main place of worship having prayed “in exile” these past summer months.

• The terrazzo flooring is nearly complete as is the painting of the ceilings and walls.
• Our newly refurbished Baptismal Font will soon be ready to once again hold the living waters of rebirth.
• In the next couple of weeks the refinished pews and doors will be installed along with the “Walk Off” Carpet in the lobby.
• The pews that were repaired and re-stained will now be equipped with kneelers that can be lowered without sound.
• We will need to test the acoustics of the church since the space will be radically different with all its new hard surfaces.
• Everything, including the large stain glass window of the Crucifixion, will be thoroughly cleaned and made as dust free as possible.
• New brass hand railings for the sanctuary will be installed.
• A new arrangement of the panels of the saints will be properly lit to enhance their beauty
• And, as one can imagine, a plethora of other unforeseen details will be attended to.

In a word, the end is in sight. But this end will herald a new beginning for the liturgical life of our parish as we prepare to re-enter God’s house with is our house as well. Continue to pray for the success of this project and congratulate yourselves for making it happen.

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